’Gross opinion’
Dear Editor:
RE: Giving up freedoms? (Dec. 16).
It was unsettling reading Henry Brunsveld’s letter regarding all the personal freedoms that are under attack by our government.
I’m not going to waste my time responding to his beliefs regarding the impact of COVID-19 on those who have lost their jobs because frankly reading the same uneducated, reactionary rhetoric every week is getting tiresome and I’m sure there are many who agree.
I’m more concerned with the second half of his letter in which he states the “erosion of our freedoms” has been most recently demonstrated by bill C-4 which has made providing, promoting and/or advertising conversion therapy a criminal offence.
Sadly for Mr. Brunsveld, he has been cursed to live out the rest of his life in the 21st century during a time when members of the LGBTQ+ community are finally being treated as human beings. I’m afraid your opinions are a few decades, perhaps even a century, too late; People are people, regardless of their sexual orientation.
I think its very safe to say that, despite his claims, Mr. Brunsveld did not read bill C-4 and that it is more than likely he gathered his information from Facebook; a habit I had addressed when I responded to him back in the summer regarding global warming misinformation.
The definition of conversion therapy is not “vague and confusing” as Henry states, it is very clearly defined in the “Definition of conversion therapy” section of the bill which took me less than 30 seconds to find online. If there’s any other confusion regarding the definition, one can consult the extensive Wikipedia page on conversion therapy. I read a bit of the wiki page and associated sources while writing this letter, turns out conversion therapy in Canada has already been banned in multiple provinces prior to bill C-4, who knew! It’s crazy how you can actually learn something by spending five minutes reading credible sources.
The passing of this bill was a very interesting point for Mr. Brunsveld to bring up as an example of an “erosion of freedoms.” Do you really think the best example of an attack on personal freedoms is a bill that bans a twisted practice that prevents a marginalized group from freely expressing themselves? Don’t you see the problem here? I really hope it doesn’t need to be spelled out.
It’s disgusting that a gross opinion like Henry’s has been shared and scary knowing there are people who share this opinion that live just a few houses away.
Darby Smyth,
Orton
Different approach
Dear Editor:
Mathias Bunyan was experiencing a mental health crisis when he was shot and killed, in his own home, by an OPP officer.
The big question isn’t whether or not the SIU investigation result is right or wrong – that can be debated ad nauseam.
Rather:
– the question is, why do we send armed police officers to deal with individuals in crisis?;
-the question is, why was it “too long” to wait for a negotiator to come?;
– the question is, why did they have to pepper spray him while he was hiding in a closet in his own home?;
– the question is, why wasn’t the Integrated Mobile Police and Crisis team involved?
Time and time again we send officers not trained in de-escalation or mental health issues to deal with people in crisis. Time and time again these people end up dead.
Perhaps it is time to try a different approach – maybe we will get a better or a different result.
Ian Hornsby,
Elora
Land acknowledgment
Dear Editor:
RE: County not ready to add land acknowledgment at every council meeting, Dec. 2.
I read the first line in the article … this was a bit of a shock. As a First Nation person, I have come to expect that the governments of Canada operate as if Canadian history starts at a point when the first European showed up and discovered what is now Canada—and that is not that long ago.
Canadian society has since operated on this precept as if First Nation people did not exist prior to European discovery. This point is important as Canada, its provinces, its territories and religious allies worked hard to remove the Indian from the man.
What does that mean? It means assimilation of the First Nation into Canadian society by removing the link to our culture and lands. Treaties would live on and since there would be no legal First Nation people, the treaties would be historical artifacts. The centerpiece of this assimilation policy was the Residential School System, where Canada took over the parenting of First Nation children, to remove and replace First Nation culture, language, and the connection to the land in each child. The impact of the assimilation policy on First Nation people has been significant and continues to have daily societal impacts on First Nation people today and has left us feeling excluded by Canada and its provinces.
As I read the rest of the article, I do appreciate the important work that has been undertaken by the committee, as I also believe the staff and political representatives should understand the history of the land of Wellington County in which they work so hard to manage and regulate how land is used in a good way.
However, I do not understand the reference to the courts, as court judgments will not affect historical fact; and secondly, local governments take direction from the province, thus provincial policy will continue to guide the legal aspects of the relationship between Indigenous people and municipal governments, this also does not change historical fact.
Land acknowledgement is not a one-way message; recognition that the land has a history before European contact is important to recognize. I also need to see that local government also can represent me as a First Nation person who lives here in Wellington County.
Recognition of the First Nation links to the land and the historical context is an important step in societal inclusion for Indigenous people. As I see it, land acknowledgment cannot be stagnant, it must also be live and continuous, and educational, the simple act of reading a land acknowledgment with a historical fact into the minutes of a meeting of local government can be quite impactful for Indigenous constituents of Wellington County.
It should not be placed on a shelf and dusted off every couple of years; regular recognition through a land acknowledgement is a vital part of reconciliation.
Merv McLeod,
Fergus
Not ‘attainable’
Dear Editor:
RE: Proposed apartment building will bring vibrancy, add to attainable housing supply: builder, Dec. 16.
I think it is time for the various levels of government to set a definition of “affordable housing” and “attainable housing” for developers to follow.
In an article on Dec. 16, Pierre Chauvin is quoted as saying that “we are proposing attainable housing” and that his project is “not a cash grab.” But the lowest cost apartments will be 300-square-foot bachelor’s renting for $1,250 with an additional $75 dollars a month if you want parking.
Using the 30% rule for rent budgeting, you would need to be making a gross salary of $41,600, in order to attain these tiny apartments without parking. There are a lot of people for whom this attainable housing would not be attainable. For example, someone on ODSP who is receiving about $900 per month. Or a young person on an entry level salary.
It is time for our various levels of government to ensure that developers offering attainable housing or affordable housing are actually doing so. It is also time to rethink the parking rules for downtown Fergus. Having only 21 parking spaces for 36 apartments and commercial use on the bottom floor, will increase the parking problems that already exist in downtown Fergus.
I would have been interested in stating these concerns at the virtual neighbourhood meeting that took place on Dec. 9, but I guess it was not very well advertised, since I did not see any notice about it.
Hopefully, the public will receive better notification of the township’s statutory public meeting.
Joanne Mitchell,
Fergus
Huge costs to hook up
Dear Editor:
I thought to myself why not be prepared and begin to set a budget for my upcoming costs to hook up to the proposed sewage plant in Erin. I hope that you are sitting down for real numbers.
Plumbing is $12,750 plus taxes and a clause for unforeseen circumstances. Yikes, bad start. New back porch and cedar deck for the ones that must be ripped off of my foundation because of cast iron pipes cemented into my 1904 foundation: $38,000 plus taxes and again the dreaded clause about unforeseen challenges. New driveway is at least a firm price of $7,000 plus taxes. Plus because of the pumping system needed for the plumbing in case of a power outage I can get away with a gas generator and that is only $3,000 plus taxes.
Total cost for my 1904 stucco home on Church Boulevard in Erin, drum roll please …. is only $68,647.
Hey, Mayor Allan Alls, I wish that I could get a brand new septic system like the one that you just got for $17,000 with a 50-year warranty and never pay a cent again. Oh yeah, you don’t live in the sewage system footprint. Lucky you.
Keith Hayward,
Erin
Virtual walk a success
Dear Editor:
Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides and Fergus Lions want to thank Centre Wellington and area for your support of our 2021 “Virtual Dog Walk” and fundraiser for Dog Guides.
The local Fergus online donations totaled $9,500 and the Fergus Club was able to donate $4,000 over the last 12 months. The Marsville Lions Club raised nearly $3,000 and the total accumulated donation was $18,415. Wow, a near record amount and we do not know who to thank individually.
I know the Fergus Legion donated and neighbours, dog lovers and foster dog families donated but the remainder are anonymous to us Lions. The assistance dogs you helped us raise and train are a gift to those in Canada who need them. Liz in Kitchener recently received her canine vision dog and we like to think it was our “Fergus” support since he is named Fergus.
Next year we are planning to resume holding an in-person Walk for Dog Guides to thank our supporters, so watch the Fergus Lions website for details. Thank you.
Ben Collings,
Fergus Lions,
Walk for Dog Guides
Grateful for Groves
Dear Editor:
I am writing to say just how very fortunate the people of Centre Wellington and Wellington County are to have such a wonderful facility as Groves Memorial Community Hospital.
I had the misfortune to become ill with some form of virus (not COVID-19) earlier this month. After consultation with my personal physician it was decided that I should attend the emergency department at Groves to undergo some testing to try and determine what was causing my illness. I made two visits separated by a day to complete the various tests and to have a physician “look” me over.
I don’t believe that I can properly express my gratitude to the staff at the hospital. They did a phenomenal job of completing their tasks expeditiously and in a kind and caring manner. Every individual I encountered – doctors, nurses, clinicians, administrative and clerical staff – all made the process as smooth and easy as possible. Despite being ill it was a wonderful and reassuring experience.
So, a really big shout out to the staff at GMCH and the wonderful job they are doing in what is a very stressful time.
Many, many thanks.
Michael Vasil,
Fergus
Bring it back
Dear Editor:
RE: Soaring food prices again in 2022.
It is imperative that we bring back the old industries to match the technology age. That means do what our fathers, mothers and grandparents did. The Industrial Age.
For example, quit getting all snooty if someone wants their property, that they’re paying good money for out of their own pockets, and let people use their land for business and industry.
“Aesthetically pleasing” doesn’t gel anymore.
Just a mention from me, as my mom and dad lived through the Depression.
Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2022.
Dori Steele,
Fergus
Successful parade
Dear Editor:
The Rockwood Farmers Santa Claus Parade of Lights was huge success again this year!
We appreciate participants and viewers alike that were patient with last year’s altered format. The farmers outdid themselves this year!
The parade was lucky enough to have a light snowfall to make the parade magical. We thank all the farmers that spent many hours to make their machines shine better than ever.
We could not make this event possible without the extensive help from all of the departments of the Guelph/Eramosa staff. Also our fire department and their neighbouring departments. The police keep us all safe.
Thank you to the local farmers who let use their land for the parade and for parking Also thank you to the Rockwood Lions, the Wellington Advertiser, Drexler Construction, Chantler Environmental and Sunbelt Rentals!
Merry Christmas. See you next year on Dec. 8. Thank You.
Glenn Storey,
Rockwood Farmers Parade Committee
‘Climate doomsayers’
Dear Editor:
Re: Flying ‘hypocrites’, Nov. 11.
Jane Vandervliet did a great job of exposing the hypocrisy of the COP26 attendees in Scotland – the largest contingent of tax-funded delegates (277 plus 17 press aides) being from Canada. They want us to lower our standard of living by stopping the use of fossil fuels, but are obviously unwilling to do so themselves.
As she points out, their “green” solutions are not that green and can have negative but not unexpected consequences. For example, in the U.K., which has relied increasingly on tax-subsidized wind power, a mix of windless air and competition for the world’s gas supply has caused power prices to skyrocket as natural gas prices in Europe have risen more than 500% over the past year. Soaring energy costs have forced some factories to shut down and a number of power companies to go bankrupt.
Germany, which has been transitioning to wind and solar power, resulting in much higher electricity costs, is now dependent on Russia to send enough natural gas to save it from freezing through the winter. It is also returning to coal as a power supply.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden is begging OPEC to produce more oil in order to keep gas prices down, while he shuts down pipelines and oil and gas production in the U.S.
Why is it that our schools, politicians, and most of the mainstream media give us only one-sided views on climate change issues?
There is certainly an abundance of reliable science-based material in books and on the internet to counter the views of the climate doomsayers who are controlling the narrative.
Henry Brunsveld,
Puslinch